Father Ambrose from New Zealand is home, undergoing palliative care for a cancer that is beyond repair. He is dying bit by bit now and he is profoundly alone so it would be a grace to write to him, send your love and prayers and help him with this last work before he goes home in peace and happiness. I know he would be happy to hear from many of you here.

I don't know Fr.Ambrose personally and we have talked occasionally over time. He's helped me alot in my journey to Orthodoxy. Hearing that he is dying bit by bit and is alone, that just kills me. I consider everyone on this board like an extended family, it's really bizarre but it's true, and to hear that wow.

Lord have mercy.

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“There is your brother, naked, crying, and you stand there confused over the choice of an attractive floor covering.”

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.

Prayers for my dear friend and brother, Hieromonk Ambrose, that he be comforted by the love of his friends and those who respect him. May God keep him at peace and free from pain and discomfort and, if it be God's will, may he be cured of this dread disease and be granted many more years in His service.

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"Not only is it unnecessary to adopt the customs of the Latin Rite to manifest one's Catholicism, it is an offense against the unity of the Church."

While I'm sure that it was well-intended, I find Mary's characterization to be unseemly in its wording and its intimation that Father Ambrose is some hapless, abandoned individual who will be lucky if anyone is even aware when his time comes to go with God.

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"Not only is it unnecessary to adopt the customs of the Latin Rite to manifest one's Catholicism, it is an offense against the unity of the Church."

While I'm sure that it was well-intended, I find Mary's characterization to be unseemly in its wording and its intimation that Father Ambrose is some hapless, abandoned individual who will be lucky if anyone is even aware when his time comes to go with God.

Charmed, I'm sure.

If my note was in any way offensive to Father Ambrose, I am sorry. I did not mean to say that you are hapless, homeless or friendless.

If my note was in any way offensive to Father Ambrose, I am sorry. I did not mean to say that you are hapless, homeless or friendless.

Exceedingly badly [ possibly carelessly ] worded .

All that needed to be said was that his cancer after , thorough investigations , was founded to be untreatable [ you do NOT repair Cancer like a fracture ].

We all know what that indicates.

Prayers for Fr Ambrose that his suffering will be alleviated successfully , that God will look on him with mercy and compassion

« Last Edit: March 31, 2012, 04:30:37 PM by the slave »

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"Never let anyone try to tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be eastern. The West was fully Orthodox for a thousand years; and her venerable liturgy is far older than any of her heresies."- St. John Maximovitch

If my note was in any way offensive to Father Ambrose, I am sorry. I did not mean to say that you are hapless, homeless or friendless.

Exceedingly badly [ possibly carelessly ] worded .

All that needed to be said was that his cancer after , thorough investigations , was founded to be untreatable [ you do NOT repair Cancer like a fracture ].

We all know what that indicates.

Prayers for Fr Ambrose that his suffering will be alleviated successfully , that God will look on him with mercy and compassion

I agree formally with elijahmaria on this. The decision to question her motives and to pile on when you saw someone else do the same is what is inappropriate for this thread, and it will not be tolerated. This is the Prayer Forum. Let's keep this thread devoted to prayer.

...you can imagine so-called healing services of the pigpen. The books that could be written, you know: Life in the Pigpen. How to Cope in the Pigpen. Being Happy in the Pigpen. Surviving in the Pigpen. And then there could be counselling, for people who feel unhappy in the pigpen, to try to get them to come to terms with the pigpen, and to accept the pigpen.

The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

I am friends with Father Ambrose on Facebook and he is very active, posting on a number of pages as recently as today. Yesterday he was debating with someone regarding ecumenism on a Facebook page. He is as sharp witted as ever and, under the circumstances, is in great spirits.

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

Lord have mercy on your servant! Mother of Light,compassionate Virgin, draw near to your faithful son Father Ambrose who trusts in your motherly love ,comfort and protection, in this time of his need. Amen!

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To God be the Glory in all things! Amen!

Only pray for me, that God would give me both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but truly will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one. St.Ignatius of Antioch.Epistle to the Romans.

An update on Father Ambrose's condition for those who may not have seen it on ByzCath or Monarchos. I had an email from Father a bit more than a week ago. He was called in for an additional consultation with the surgeon who has informed him that they are now unable to find any current evidence of cancer. A biopsy is out of the question because of Father's heart condition, but they are very certain of a new, revised, diagnosis.

His gall bladder, which was initially identified as the cancer site, has now been determined to be 100% calcified (resulting from a major accumulation of gallstones). It cannot be removed surgically, again because of his heart, and can be expected to be a source of major problems in the future. However, the surgeon noted that Father remains at significant risk for a cardiac event which "will be the most likely cause of my transitus."

Father Ambrose went on to say that 'right now I am elated that there is no cancer – glory to God for His mercy and compassion."

Father remains very grateful for the prayers offered these past couple of months and feels confident that they were a major contributing factor in the news he received last week. He asks your continued prayers, both of thanksgiving and for very real health conditions with which he still lives.

Many years,

Neil

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"Not only is it unnecessary to adopt the customs of the Latin Rite to manifest one's Catholicism, it is an offense against the unity of the Church."

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

"For, by its immensity, the divine substance surpasses every form that our intellect reaches. Thus we are unable to apprehend it by knowing what it is. Yet we are able to have some knowledge of it by knowing what it is not." - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, I, 14.

Glory be to God! this is a wonderful news indeed! will continue to pray for the remaining issues. May the unfailing intercession and protection of the Most Holy Theotokos be with her faithful son Father Ambrose. Amen

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To God be the Glory in all things! Amen!

Only pray for me, that God would give me both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but truly will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one. St.Ignatius of Antioch.Epistle to the Romans.